Disciples are Worshipers

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the 

true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: 

for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

John 4:23-24

Disciples are humble, followers of Christ, obedient, consistent, anointed, and they are worshipers.

Worship is defined as:

    >  Showing reference and honor to God

    >  What you do daily in reference to God

    >  Communion with God

    >  Surrendering and humbling yourself before God

Worship is the feeling or expression of adoration for a deity.  Worship for the deity [God] – deserves all honor, reverence, and adoration.  God is the only one that deserves ALL.

Synonyms:  adoration, glorification, glory, exaltation, reverence, honor in a religious setting or ceremony.

Being a worshipper extends outside of the church.  Transforming situation:

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.  And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?  John 4:23-29 

There has to be a call and then a response.  (Transformation:  John 4:23-29)  What happens when Jesus finds you and you were not looking for him?  Our ministry is all about helping those who do not have Christ.  Our responsibility is to meet people where they are . . . to help them find Christ.  God gives us the opportunity to come to Him.  He does not force us to come to Him.  He wants us to want Him.  We worship God in spirit and in truth.  God is seeking those to worship Him. 

Transformation takes place in worship; it is a moment of truth.  You only get real transformation in truth.

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  Matthew 18:11

What was lost?  Worship.  Worship was lost when Lucifer fell.  Jesus’ job is to convert man to worship.  God puts His spirit in us to quench our thirst.  We can’t get settled because we are thirsting after other things because we are not worshipers. 

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)  John 7:37-39

When Jesus ascended, He sent back the comforter; the Holy Spirit.  Most are just praisers but worship is a truth moment. 

We have to learn to have truth moments at home.   We can’t help others if we ourselves are broken.  What is your worship schedule?  We must worship in spirit and in truth.

How many times have you had a conversation with God and did not realize who you were talking to?  Many times God talks to us but because we are not in relationship with him, we don’t recognize Him.
 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  John 10:27

This is a voice activated Kingdom.  You will never get the voice of God if you don’t settle yourself.  It doesn’t come from Sunday morning and bible study only.  The woman at the well’s ‘strange’ hour became her miracle hour.  All of our free time should not be spent in idle time.  Take an hour of idle time and worship by spending some alone time with God.  Turn the TV and the computer off.

God gets no glory out of us going to hell.   Ask God, ‘Is it I?  Go straight to God and not man. 
   

That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.  And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.  Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.  And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.  1 Samuel 3:4-10

Stop seeking the ungodly and carnal for counsel.  
 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  Psalms 1:1

Big minds cannot share with little minds.  The spiritual encounter eliminates the natural inclination.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.   John 7:38

Keep coming to church; one day the issue you come in with, you will walk out without it.  You will never be ready; it is just something you have to do; just trust God.  ‘It is a cinch by the inch, but it is hard by the yard’.  Spend some of your overthinking time in worship.  Infuse your mind in worship.  We are at a point where we should be more sensitive in the spirit, more aware of his promptings.

The approach to God is holiness – stop and let God show you yourself.  There is a transformation that takes place in worship.  Worship does not occur just at church.  Worship cleanses you to help you lead others to Christ.  Use wisdom: 

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom will help keep you out of unnecessary warfare. 

We need to be excited about Jesus and tell others about Jesus.

But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.  John 7:29

Prophesy is for the unbeliever; don’t get stuck thinking you have to be prophesied to.

Worship is an exclusive (personal) act between you and God; you don’t need to have someone prophesy to you.  Learn to worship God, not man.  There is a life you can live with God; it is an opportunity where He orders your steps.  It is a choice we make.  You should want God to strip you of all weights and negativity.

Small minds talk of small things.  Never apologize for what God has blessed you with.  Do you want to prosper even as your soul prospers?
    

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3 John 1:2

The more I worship, the more spiritual I become, the more like God I become, there is a higher level of prosperity if even in my spirit only. 

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  1 Timothy 6:6

In exclusive worship:

    à  God will show you the plain path. 

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Psalms 27:11 

    à  God is the author and finisher of your faith.
  

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

    à  God will show you your dishonest ways

    à  The spirit will guide you in all directions.   

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  John 16:13

Pastors lead, the Holy Spirit guides; don’t get so caught up in your earthly leaders that you make them God.  Follow the leader as he follows God and give God the glory.

Worship God and continue to have those truth moments.  Anything that is not right has to get right before we come into the presence of God.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:20

There is an approach to God and that is holiness.  You’d rather get to heaven and find that there were things that you could have done instead of getting there and finding out things you were not supposed to do.  Stop trying to find out what you can get away with and just be holy.  God will always have a remnant; that’s why we can’t just throw people away.

Worship will change your life and save it.  Don’t think it strange when those among you in the church and in the world begin to distance from you as you strive to do right.

Excerpts from Word Enrichment

Bishop Joel C. Lofton

(Biblical Studies)

03/23/20